Spring is here...

As always there has been a while between posts...I am sure that you are all busy too.

The problem is, that when I leave a lot of time between posts, I forget what I want to tell you all.

1) The ´Colon´theatre has reopened after something like three years of refurbishment so a group of us went to see a ballet. My first ballet and I LOVED it! The theatre is amazing but the ballet was incredible too. We paid for the most expensive seats (a well spent £30) but we could have paid a measly £1.50 to stand up in the rafters. Oh how I love Buenos Aires sometimes.

2) Wedding plans...so planning a wedding thousands of miles away isnt easy but grateful for those helping me and those who will in the future ;-)

3) Engagement ring...see below. It is my mum's ring and I love it. Old school, different and a little reminder of her - perfect.


4)Laser eye surgery. My eyes were bad enough that Laser eye surgery was covered on my insurance. I had it done and so far so good...I would like to go into detail but I know that some of you wouldn't appreciate that so I will refrain from soing so.

I have to go as it is 23:53 and I have school and Parent's Evening tomorrow.
Trying to skype has been a nightmare recently, I am sorry, I still love you. Please just leave skype signed in when free, that way we will hopefully just 'catch each other' one day.

Besos, Donna xx

I'm getting married!

So the facebook status has officially changed but for those of you who dislike Facebook or do not have an account I wanted to share the news that I am engaged.

Claudio asked me last week, no big story...just perfect. We had dinner and he asked me. Simple. Loved it.

I am sporting my mum's engagement ring...we decided that we didn't want anything uber fancy or expensive and I like the fact that it has a story and it old-fashioned. I love it!

Plans: at the moment, is complicated...we would like to marry 'legally' (but not really, if that makes sense) in Chile in May/June then to marry in England in July (properly) for friends and family on that side of the world and then to have a celebration in Argentina for all friends and family this side of the world.
Please pray for the organisition (how to do this when not living in Chile or England), for the people helping us to do this, for the legalities in terms of marrying in Chile and financial provision (2 flights to Chile and to England do not come cheap) and for us...as we prepare to start our lives together.


Am very happy. Thats it. Look forward to seeing you in July!!
Besos, Love you!

Home for Summer

So I have been back in Buenos Aires for a week and a few of you asked for a blog update so here it is...

England...oh how I love you...

THE PEOPLE - loved catching up with family and friends. You guys are why England is, and will always be home.

THE PLACES - wow, England is beautiful and I miss both London and Plymouth so much. From the Eastern European shop filled streets of Manor house, to the dodgy 'ole' pubs in the stow, to the massive city parks, to the skyline London views, to the ongoing road works on embankment road, to the stunning views of Devon...I definately enjoyed both, old haunts and new beauties.

THE FOOD - I always say that there isn't really a lot of 'good traditional English food', however, I sure loved enjoying the food I ate when back. Cream teas, fish and chips, roast dinners, pizza express, wagamamas, meal deals, bacon, paninis (please note that I know some of these are not 'English' but they are part of my England!).

THE BABIES - I had the opportunity of meeting two new babies...my friend Kelly's little boy, Oliver-Jack, who is actually 7 months old already but I met for the first time. And, my friend Hannah had her first baby just a few weeks before I returned so was fabulous to meet little Finlay too.

THE LANGUAGE - the goal to learn Spanish is an ongoing love-hate relationship. Being able to go into a shop and not rehearse what I was going to say was nice, being able to hang out with a group of friends without feeling lost was nice however it was also nice to overhear Spanish in shops and on the tube...to understand it (well, some of it)...to be reminded of that goal and of what I have learnt so far.

I want to give a special thanks for all those who made time for me in your busy schedules, those who contributed to my ticket and the Chesterfield Garden girls for letting me make myself at home. I loved every moment of being home, thank you to all...for your love and support.

I am now re-adjusting to living here again. Glad to be close to mi novio and the friends that make living here in Argentina 'a home away from home'.

I miss you already...stay in touch.
Besitos.

Just a short one...

I am coming home for a month!! Yeay. I am already looking forward to the day that I can end that sentence at 'I am coming home'. :-)

Anyways, just wanted to let you all know that I am going to be back from the 25th June-24th July, or there abouts (once I actually buy my ticket) and will be making plans to see you all as much as possible!

I also wanted to thank all of you who are helping me with my ticket, words are not enough to express my gratitude. It really does mean a lot to me.

Can't wait to see you all!!
England baby!

Besos.

Bolivia!!

For the final two weeks of my summer holiday, Clau and I went to Bolivia. Bolivia, what can I say? The country was absolutely beautiful, the food was good and the people were really lovely...the negatives? Altitude, toilets and roads!

We left Argentina and travelled by coach to the border of Argentina (29 hours), sidenote: on the way Claudio had his residency papers stolen. We stayed a night in La Quiaca and walked to the border the next morning. I had no problems getting in to Bolivia however due to Clau's lack of papers, he was not allowed in until they could prove he had residency...after a few attempts to locate this information we eventually did and were in Bolivia!

We travelled from Villazon to Uyuni by train (10 hours), train was old school and rocked about the whole time but the landscape was amazing and after popping a sleeping pill, wasn't too bad. In Uyuni, we took a tour to the salt flats. It had rained the night before so the salt flats were wet, this meant they looked pretty dirty and were not the beautiful white colour they are when dry, however with the reflection of the sky, they are amazing. We had lunch out the back of the 4x4 and by the end of lunch it was sunny and we got to experience the bright white colour of them also. The longer I live here the more I discover of South America's beauty...the salt flats were definately an addition to my list of amazing places.
From Uyuni to La Paz (12 hours coach), worst coach journey, was freezing and didnt really sleep. La Paz was fabulous, the city itself is set in a valley so all around you the houses are built on the hillsides...very different to anywhere that I have ever been. I loved it. We went to which was really interesting and then to Isla del sol which was just beautiful, very relaxing.


We headed back and went to Sucre for a couple days. Sucre is beautiful and we loved walking around the streets and seeing the views. My camera ran out of battery in La Paz so that was a bummer as I dont really have any pics of Sucre :-( We left Sucre and travelled back to Villazon (awful journey again...heavy rain, mountain roads, crazy driver, fast speed=me thinking I was going to die). After a day in La Quiaca again we travelled 32 hours back to Buenos Aires.

Some others things:
*the food was good, lunch was always soup, meat/fish (a lot of fish) with rice, veg, fries and then some sort of fruit salad for dessert, all for approx £2 :-) Lots of street food too!
*Altitude - AWFUL, had a headache pretty much everyday. Bolivians chew coca leaves which I tried and they do help but we also discovered a Coca Tea which was tasty!
* People - A lot still wear traditional clothes and live a more tradional lifestyle, there was definately a big contrast in life in Bolivia and life in Buenos Aires.

Definately recommending Bolivia to you all.
Along with Argentina, of course.

Besos, Donna

2011

So as I sit here, air-con on, fan on and still hot...I am going to update you about my Christmas and New Year Festivities.

I felt like I had been looking forward to Helen and Kate being here for such a long time and it was as fabulous as I hoped it would be...I just wish it could have lasted longer.
My friend Kate arrived just before Christmas. I decided that the local bus would be the best route (aka the cheapest) to go and pick her up so 3 hours after leaving my house I arrive in time to see my beautiful friend walking through arrivals! yeay! We spent a few days in BA, exploring and catching up. A couple days later Hel arrived and we explored some more and before we knew it, it was Christmas eve...

CHRISTMAS EVE: Is the main christmas celebration here and with the temperature over 30, we spent the day walking around my area, purchased a little paddling pool and then headed home for an 'asado' (Barbeque). Claudio was in charge of that part, while we enjoyed the good weather and good wine. Dinner was beautiful and we laughed a lot, and returned indoors after a few sightings of some cockroaches (Hel and Kate were not accostumed to this yet). We had our gift exchange, all very happy. CHRISTMAS DAY: Early morning rise...we were going to Uruguay. Very happy that we now had new stamps in our passports, we set sail and spent the day in Colonia, a beautiful little town in Uruguay. Later that day we took the bus to Montevideo.

MONTEVIDEO: Spent a couple days here with the ladies and Claudio, was good fun but because of the company. I didnt really like Montevideo although I did love how friendly the people were and spending time with my peeps!PUNTA DEL ESTE: Clau had to return to BA for work :-( We went on to Punta del este. We werent in the main part of Punta Del Este and I liked it, the beaches were beautiful and it was perfect for spending a few days with the girls, enjoying the good weather and good food! If I forget about the expense and the drunk guy staying in our room the last night, it was fabulous!

We return to BA and the very next day Kate left us :-( Helen and I continued onwards to the South of Argentina...

EL CALAFATE: Beautiful. Glacier. Ice trekking. Expensive. Lack of working Cash points.

EL CHALTEN: Beautiful. Expensive. Walking. Lack of working cash points. No signal. Crap Wifi
I had the most wonderful time with the girls being here. I miss friends and family so much and at this time of year it is definately harder. The girls being here was the best Christmas present and I loved the opportunity to show them more of my life here and to explore. Thank you, thank you, thank you ladies!!! You are awesome!

Since then, with a lot of friends in the states and no motivation to do any work... I have spent most of my time sleeping, reading, walking, cleaning and waiting for opportunities to see people. Good news though, I did some work yesterday and Saturday I go to Bolivia for two weeks with Claudio...I will send a new update about that sometime soon!

Love you all, hope you all had a good Christmas.
Miss you x